NEWSLETTER
Award shows have their moments every now and again, but I’ve been mostly trying to avoid them in recent years. They just don’t do it for me the way they once did. Maybe it’s because my mother isn’t around anymore to find something enjoyable in the glitz and glamour. Whatever it is, I’m just not locked in when they’re on. Although, I must say I had some great timing in seeing the GRAMMYs celebrate 50 years of hip hop with a pretty rad performance. It wasn’t as all-encompassing as I’d like it to be, but you were never going to check every box in a medley. Nevertheless, that was a nice touch. More please?
- It looks like Patrick got the full Vegas experience while covering the new-look Pro Bowl experience:
- Also, we’d appreciate it if you did us a solid in following BN’s NFL coverage online, on Twitter, and on Facebook. And don’t forget to give Patrick a follow on the bird app. Please and thanks!
- While many other football fans and writers are cooking up Pro Bowl alternatives, I’ll likely find myself in the minority in thinking that the re-imagined Pro Bowl Games were a perfectly cromulent football event. It was giving throwback MTV “Rock and Jock” vibes. And, for the sake of full disclosure, I didn’t watch it all the way through. But I think that is fine. There is nothing wrong with having something on as background noise.
- Stuff like this was fun to watch as I found myself trying to fill time before the Sunday Scaries™️ set in:
- There was an odd sense of enjoyment in watching the Bears and Lions team up for something that resulted in a win. What type of alternate, bizarro world universe are we living in? Is this a sign of things to come? Are we about to enter an era in which the Bears and Lions are battling for NFC North supremacy? That would be fun. Everyone likes a breath of fresh air every once in a while. After all, aren’t we tired of the Packers and Vikings at the top of the division? I know I am. So let’s flip this thing!
- Earlier today, I asked which Bears player would be next to represent at the Pro Bowl. As in being there as a member of the Bears instead of being their brother’s sidekick. And, to be honest, I’m impressed with the creativity in your replies to this tweet:
- In addition to the four above, you fine folks mentioned safety Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Kyler Gordon, receiver Chase Claypool, left tackle Braxton Jones, linebacker Jack Sanborn, and long-snapper Patrick Scales. Some of you got really creative in name-checking potential free agent running back Saquon Barkley, possible trade piece receiver Tee Higgins, Alabama pass rusher Will Anderson Jr., and Georgia defensive lineman Jalen Carter. I’m digging these options.
- The off-the-board suggestions of Claypool (what if he can channel the magic from his 2020 season?), Jones (hey, Charles Leno Jr. made a Pro Bowl!), and Sanborn (Bears fans would soooo stuff the ballot boxes to send a linebacker to Vegas) were my favorites. Also? The Scales pick was arguably the most inspired choice. Patrick Mannelly is seen as one of the gold-standard long snappers despite never making a Pro Bowl. Scales has a bit of a cult following like Mannelly once did, so maybe this is something that *CAN* happen. Let’s tweet, type, and speak it into existence.
- Bold prediction: If the Bears can send one (1) offensive lineman to the Pro Bowl next year, they’ll be a playoff team at the end of next season. With that in mind, I found this factoid about the Philadelphia Eagles to be interesting:
- I sure hope Assistant GM Ian Cunningham took good notes about how to build a good line during his time in Philly!
- Getting it right in the trenches figures to be an offseason priority for the Bears. With that in mind, Andrew Dannehy (Da Bears Blog) explores how this year’s Super Bowl contestants drive home the importance of creating pressure on defense and blocking it from the offensive side of things. Hmmm … I wonder if this is a good place to underscore how the Bears’ top exec spent a huge chunk of time (and under different regimes) with the Chiefs and that his top lieutenant left the Eagles last offseason to go to Chicago. That nugget makes me feel like the Bears are in good hands moving forward.
- Also: Happy Super Bowl Week! Enjoy responsibly.
- For your listening pleasure:
- A loaded set of daily deals at Amazon today, from charging gear to bartending sets to projectors to office needs to clippers. #ad
- I’m glad Jed feels this way and hope it means good times are ahead for the Cubs:
- The Nets are trading Kyrie Irving to the Mavs, which put LeBron into full Swiftie mode:
- There is nothing like tweeting through it with some Taylor Swift lyrics. Don’t worry. I’ve been there, too, Bron.
